What a crazy few weeks I've had! I'm sorry for the lack of blogging lately- I seriously have not had much free time recently. The past two weeks have had major activities for a few of my projects.
I've spent every morning (and a good part of every afternoon) since last Wednesday in a conference room at the Top Tower Hotel meeting with our 10 RPOs (Rwandan Partner Organizations. (If you are counting, you realize I still have 2 more meetings to go!) Each day has been spent helping them create their work plans and budgets for the last year of a USAID funded project BCSM (Behavior Change and Social Marketing) project. As we are all well aware of our flailing economy, funding from many donors has been reduced which is a challenge in creating new budgets. So this year instead of just showing up and starting a work plan and budget from scratch, we gave each RPO a budget amount and told them to draft a plan. Our individual meetings have been to polish the budgets and plans to work within our decreased amount and time period. I have been on an emotional roller coaster over the past two weeks from being ecstatic with organizations whose calculations and plans fit perfectly into what we asked to frustration with those who are sticklers on one last thing that "cannot" be removed. One thing I can say is that I have definitely learned the art of negotiation. I also really had a chance to spend time with the leaders of each RPO individually which made me feel more like part of the team (minus the rapid fire Kinyarwanda which at times makes me feel even more like an outsider). My supervisor was not able to attend these meetings as she hoped so it makes me feel good to show her that I (and another co-worker) can get this done in a timely and accurate manner.
Aside from working with the RPOs, I've been busy working with 12+ (as you see from some of my previous posts). At the same time that I have been working with the RPOs, we are doing refresher training for the mentors in each district. I left Kigali last Friday morning for Huye (in the South) to attend the end of the refresher training and help out at the actual 12+ training event. Despite the cold, rainy weather, the girls had a blast and this is the happiest I have seen the girls at a training to date. They were all singing and dancing and cheering and having a blast. It made my heart smile. On the back end, ie the M&E team, things are starting to get more organized but its still a little chaotic. A database is now in the works which will make a significant improvement in updating forms and being able to calculate data more accurately. We've also reviewed all of the questions asked during pre and post tests to re-evaluate what we are asking. As a pilot program, we are constantly re-evaluating what is working, what we can do to improve the program, and how to make the documentation process simpler for the girls and for ourselves. Despite the challenges, I am really enjoying this project. A new intern is arriving next month whose main job is M&E for this project which should be really good. I'm hoping that I will still have a role in 12+ once she arrives since it is so rewarding for me.
Next week I'll be meeting with the final 2 RPOs, finalizing all of the budgets and work plans, and then doing a refresher training in Musanze (the North of Rwanda-- think Gorillas in the Mist area). This time I should be at the training for the whole time. I'm leading the M&E tools part of the training which I have managed to prepare in between meeting with RPOs, data entry for 12+, editing creative briefs for our website, and assisting with our transition to a local NGO.
Outside of work I went to trivia on Monday and my team came in 2nd place! I've been wanting to get 1st or 2nd place since I arrived in June and finally it happened! Our prize was our drink bill removed. I realized that I should have ordered more than just a bottle of water but free is free!
I've started doing exercise videos after work which give me more energy and are a good release from sitting down all day. I've been mixing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred with Zumba videos and P90X. It's also kept me from going out spending money which is good since I spent a fortune over the last few weeks for my friends' departure dinners.
Tonight I went out to happy hour at the Marines- this time they opened early and had badminton set up, the pool open, and a Mr. Chips booth (a new restaurant that is the closest to a McDonalds that you can find in Rwanda). The owner makes fresh cheeseburgers, chicken burgers, hot dogs, and even pulled pork, all served with french fries (chips). Apparently they also have fish and chips. After being here for a few months, it is the closest taste to home and a welcomed meal. It was nice to sit and relax, have a burger and a drink, and
start off the weekend. Tomorrow we start the third 12+ training module and then its on to movie night at Heaven. Have a great weekend!
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